CHST - Construction Health and Safety Technician Fall Protection and Prevention Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M, what is the minimum height at which fall protection is required for construction workers on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge?
- 4 feet
- 5 feet
- 6 feet (Correct answer)
- 10 feet
Correct answer: 6 feet
OSHA's standard for fall protection in construction, 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1), mandates that each employee on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge which is 6 feet or more above a lower level shall be protected from falling by the use of guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems.
Question 2: A construction worker is tasked with installing a safety net system. Which of the following installation requirements is NOT compliant with OSHA standards?
- The net is installed no more than 30 feet below the working surface.
- The mesh openings of the net do not exceed 6 inches by 6 inches.
- The net is drop-tested with a 200-pound bag of sand before use. (Correct answer)
- The border rope of the net has a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds.
Correct answer: The net is drop-tested with a 200-pound bag of sand before use.
OSHA 1926.502(c) specifies that safety nets must be drop-tested with a 400-pound bag of sand, not 200 pounds. The other options are all correct requirements for safety net systems: they must be installed as close as practicable but no more than 30 feet below the work surface, have mesh openings no larger than 6x6 inches, and have a border rope with a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds.
Question 3: A personal fall arrest system (PFAS) consists of three primary components. Which of the following is essential for a complete PFAS?
- Body belt, lanyard, and anchor point
- Full-body harness, guardrail, and anchor point
- Full-body harness, connecting device, and anchor point (Correct answer)
- Safety net, body harness, and lanyard
Correct answer: Full-body harness, connecting device, and anchor point
A personal fall arrest system is comprised of an anchorage, a connector (such as a lanyard or self-retracting lifeline), and a full-body harness. Body belts have not been acceptable as part of a personal fall arrest system since January 1, 1998, because they can cause serious internal injuries during a fall. Guardrails and safety nets are separate types of fall protection systems.
Question 4: When setting up a standard guardrail system on a construction site, what is the required top rail height above the walking/working surface according to OSHA?
- 36 inches +/- 3 inches
- 42 inches +/- 3 inches (Correct answer)
- 48 inches +/- 3 inches
- 30 inches +/- 3 inches
Correct answer: 42 inches +/- 3 inches
According to OSHA 1926.502(b)(1), the top edge height of top rails, or equivalent guardrail system members, must be 42 inches (1.1 m) plus or minus 3 inches (8 cm) above the walking/working level.
Question 5: An employer has several workers who will be exposed to fall hazards on a new construction project. According to OSHA 1926.503, when must the employer provide fall protection training?
- Within the first week of exposure to the fall hazard.
- Only after a near-miss or incident occurs.
- When an employee's performance shows a lack of understanding.
- Before any employee is exposed to a fall hazard. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Before any employee is exposed to a fall hazard.
OSHA standard 1926.503(a)(1) explicitly states that the employer shall provide a training program for each employee who might be exposed to fall hazards. The training must enable each employee to recognize the hazards of falling and to know the procedures to be followed in order to minimize these hazards. This training must be provided before the employee is exposed to the hazard.
Question 6: A supervisor is inspecting a standard guardrail system and notices several issues. Which of the following conditions would be considered an OSHA violation?
- The top rail can withstand a force of 200 pounds.
- The midrail is located halfway between the top rail and the floor.
- Intermediate vertical members (balusters) are spaced 20 inches apart. (Correct answer)
- Wire rope used for the top rail is flagged every 6 feet.
Correct answer: Intermediate vertical members (balusters) are spaced 20 inches apart.
OSHA 1926.502(b)(2)(iii) requires that intermediate members, such as balusters, when used between posts, shall be not more than 19 inches apart. Therefore, a spacing of 20 inches would be a violation. The top rail must be able to withstand 200 pounds of force, the midrail should be positioned halfway, and wire rope top rails must be flagged every 6 feet.
CHST - Construction Health and Safety Technician Fall Protection and Prevention Questions and Answers 1
According to OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M, what is the minimum height at which fall protection is required for construction workers on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge?